Representatives of the Taliban, Iran, and Tajikistan have signed an agreement in a trilateral meeting held in Mashhad to activate a joint road transit route. Under the agreement, the first trial cargo shipment is expected to pass through the route within a maximum period of one month.
Iranian domestic media reported that the meeting was attended by Reza Akbari, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran; Yarmohammad Ramadan, head of the Taliban delegation; and Shayesteh Saeedmoradzadeh, Deputy Minister of Transport of Tajikistan. The meeting was hosted by the General Directorate of Roads Maintenance and Road Transportation of Razavi Khorasan Province in Mashhad.
During the meeting, the three sides signed an operational memorandum, according to which a joint road corridor linking Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan will be established and put into operation. The agreement aims to expand transit cooperation and enhance coordination among the three countries.
According to the agreement, the launch of this route could facilitate regional trade, reduce cargo transportation costs, and strengthen the region’s position as a transit hub. The three parties have also committed to prioritizing the development and utilization of this corridor within their trade and economic programs.
Under the terms of the agreement, the first cargo shipment will be conducted on a trial basis, with the participation of freight trucks from all three countries, and is expected to travel along the route within one month. The purpose of this initial phase is to assess customs coordination, transportation procedures, and the practical arrangements for cross-border movement.
The three sides also agreed to establish a joint working group to address issues including the removal of administrative barriers, facilitation of visa issuance for drivers, reduction of border waiting times, and the creation of joint insurance mechanisms.
It was further agreed that the second round of trilateral talks will be held in Kabul in the month of Aqrab (October–November) of the current year. During that meeting, a draft long-term agreement on joint cooperation in the fields of transit and transportation among the three parties will be reviewed and finalized.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
